Ternstroemia plant named ‘BLTG01’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Ternstroemia cultivar named ‘BLTG01’ is disclosed, characterized by distinctive dark green with a strong red-bronze flush when immature. Plants have a compact habit and are easily maintained in the landscape with minimal pruning. Leaves hold up well in direct sunlight with minimal leaf yellowing or scorching. The new cultivar is a Ternstroemia, suitable for ornamental garden purposes.

Latin name of the genus and species: Ternstroemia gymnanthera.

Variety denomination: ‘BLTG01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Ternstroemia cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Independence, La. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Ternstroemia gymnanthera varieties for landscape use. The open pollination resulting in this new variety was made during the Fall of 2008. The seed parent variety is an unnamed, unpatented Ternstroemia gymnanthera. The pollen parent is unidentified.

After identifying the new variety as a potentially interesting selection, the inventor first propagated ‘BLTG01’ by terminal vegetative cuttings during the Summer of at the same commercial nursery in Independence, La. The inventor continued controlled testing and propagation, assessing stability of the unique characteristics of this variety. At least three generations have been reproduced and have shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘BLTG01’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BLTG01’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BLTG01’ as a new and distinct Ternstroemia cultivar:

-   1. More compact growth habit. -   2. Glossy leaves with red-bronze coloration in new growth. -   3. Leaves hold up well in direct sunlight with minimal leaf     yellowing or scorching. -   4. Easy to maintain desired shape with pruning. -   5. Can reach six to eight feet high and four to five feet wide in     the landscape in 10 years without pruning.

COMPARISON TO PARENT VARIETY

The new variety is similar to the seed parent variety in most horticultural characteristics. However, ‘BLTG01’ differs from the parent variety in the following:

-   1. Plants of the new variety are much more tolerant of full sun than     plants of the parent. -   2. Foliage of the new variety has more red-bronze immature foliage     coloration than immature foliage of the seed parent. -   3. Plants of the new variety are smaller than plants of the parent     variety.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘BLTG01’ can be compared to the commercial variety Ternstroemia gymnanthera ‘Contherann’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,737. Plants of the new cultivar ‘BLTG01’ are similar to plants of ‘Contherann’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘BLTG01’ differ in the following:

-   1. Plants of the new variety are smaller than plants of this     comparator. Plants of BLTG01’ reach approximately 6 to 8 feet high     at maturity, plants of this comparator reach about 10 to 12 feet in     height at maturity. -   2. Plants of the new variety tolerate sun without scorching or     yellowing better than this comparator. -   3. Foliage of the new variety is narrower than foliage of this     comparator.

‘BLTG01’ can be compared to the commercial variety Ternstroemia gymnanthera ‘Conthery’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,735. Plants of the new cultivar ‘BLTG01’ are similar to plants of ‘Conthery’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘BLTG01’ differ in the following;

-   1. 1. Plants of the new variety are smaller than plants of this     comparator. Plants of BLTG01’ reach approximately 6 to 8 feet high     at maturity, plants of this comparator reach about 8 to 10 feet in     height at maturity. -   2. Foliage of ‘BLTG01’ is smaller than foliage of ‘Conthery’. -   3. Foliage of ‘BLTG01’ is darker green at maturity than foliage of     ‘Conthery’. -   4. Young foliage of ‘BLTG01’ is darker red-bronze than immature     foliage of ‘Conthery’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates in full color immature with a dark red-bronze flush as well as the dark green mature foliage. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘BLTG01’ plants grown outdoors in Loxley, Ala. Plants are approximately 2 years old, in a 3 gallon nursery container. Measurements and numerical values represent 9 averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Ternstroemia gymnanthera ‘BLTG01’.

PROPAGATION

-   Typically by softwood cuttings in Spring and Fall. -   Root description: Very dense fibrous roots. Colored near RHS     Grey-Brown 199C. Somewhat shallow rooted.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Globular evergreen shrub. -   Height: Approximately 70 cm. -   Plant spread: Approximately 50 cm. -   Branching characteristics: Moderately well branched, approximately 3     to 6 primary branches from the center of the plant. Branches occur     at approximately 10° to 35° angles. Each primary branch has 2 to 4     lateral branches. -   Primary branches: -   Length of primary branches: Average range 15 to 25 cm, then     branching into further laterals. -   Diameter of primary branches: Approximately 6 to 1.2 mm. -   Primary branch strength: Moderately strong and slightly flexible. -   Primary branch color: Oldest wood near RHS Grey 201A. Immature     branches near Brown 200D. New Growth near Yellow-Green 144A. -   Primary branch texture: Glabrous. Oldest wood somewhat rough, but     not scaly.     -   -   Lenticels.—Density: Dense. Shape: Flattened oblong. Size:             About 0.5 mm long and 0.7 mm wide. -   Lateral branches: -   Length of lateral branches: Average range 7 to 18 cm. -   Diameter of lateral branches: Average 4 mm. -   Lateral branch strength: Moderately strong. -   Lateral branch color: Near RHS Brown 200D. -   Lateral branch texture: Rough. -   Internode length: Average 2.0 to 3.5 cm. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 2 years.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Type.—Simple.         -   Arrangement.—Alternate to nearly whorled in uppermost             section.         -   Average length.—Approximately 4.5 to 6.5 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 1.5 to 1.9 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Attachment.—Short petiolate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous.         -   Appearance of top surface.—Very glossy.         -   Appearance of bottom surface.—Matte.         -   Color.—Youngest foliage upper side: Newest foliage near             Yellow-Green N144A, heavily flushed Greyed-Red 178A.             Youngest foliage under side: Near Yellow-Green N144B. Margin             Greyed-Purple 183A. Immature foliage upper side: Near 146A             heavily flushed(covering entire blade thickly) Greyed-Purple             183A. Immature foliage under side: Near Yellow-Green 146B.             Margin Greyed-Purple 183A. Mature foliage upper side: Near             Green 139A. Mature foliage under side: Near Green 139C. -   Venation:     -   -   Type.—Pinnate.         -   Venation color upper side.—Near Green 139C.         -   Venation color under side.—Mid-vein near Yellow-Green 144C.             Lateral veins indistinguishable from leaf blade.

FLOWER

-   Flowering not observed to date.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease and pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility     to normal diseases and pests of Ternstroemia observed. -   Temperature tolerance: USDA Zone 7 through 10. -   Fruit/seed production: Not observed to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ternstroemia plant named ‘BLTG01’ as herein illustrated and described. 